“This is a football.”

Read

Luke 11:28, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Think

“Get back to the basics.”

Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi began the 1961 NFL season with something that, to many, seemed ridiculous. He walked into the Green Bay Packers’ locker room, held up a football, and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football.”

This was a room full of 36 professional football players! They knew what a football was. But they had failed the previous year to accomplish their goal of winning the championship. They had gotten caught up in the superfluous aspects of the game, and Lombardi knew that they needed to get back to the basics if they were going to win.

When it comes to the Christian life, many times we need to be reminded of the basics, no matter how “professional” we think we are.

Christianity is not complex; it’s very simple. That doesn’t mean it is shallow or easy. But it is simple. What is it all about? In a word: obedience. When we stick to the basics of obeying God with what he calls us to do, that’s when we discover the key to winning!

Act

What is God telling you to do that you have failed to do? No matter what it is, you will only experience the life that you (and God) desire when you begin to obey. Don’t settle for anything less in your own life. Instead, obey God and experience the wins he has in store for you!

Pray

God, I know you are calling me to obey you. Help me to set aside my pride, fear, and doubt and to simply trust you in everything. Amen.